Hamilton: Skipping Ferrari Simulator Is 'Way Forward' After Canada Sprint Qualifying

Lewis Hamilton says not using Ferrari's simulator is "the way forward" after a strong performance in Canadian Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying. The seven-time champion qualified fifth, beating teammate Charles Leclerc for the first time in any competitive session since China, and called it his best session of the season.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's turnaround at a track where Ferrari had no upgrades signals progress in his adaptation to the team. His decision to skip the sim and instead focus on data analysis and a radically new setup could reshape how he approaches race weekends moving forward.

The Details:

• Hamilton was Ferrari's closest challenger to the leading Mercedes in SQ1 and SQ2, only losing time on his final run with a small mistake.
• He chose a setup never used before after a three-week break allowed Ferrari to "sift through the data." The changes transformed the car's ride stability and corner balance.
• "I've never felt the car like this before. It was so much fun out there," Hamilton said.
• Leclerc struggled with brakes, saying: "I haven't been at ease at all. With the brakes I get into corners hoping I don't end up going straight." He needs to find a fix for the Sprint.
• Elsewhere, Max Verstappen complained of his feet slipping off the pedals due to poor ride over kerbs, leaving Red Bull 0.5s off pace in seventh.
• McLaren's Lando Norris (P3) and Oscar Piastri (P4) aim to use their strong race starts to jump Mercedes' front row, noting that Silver Arrows have only led once after opening corners this season.

What's Next:

The Sprint race on Saturday will test whether Hamilton's new setup holds up over distance. Ferrari will also need to resolve Leclerc's brake issues to score points. Red Bull face a steep climb to recover, while McLaren will rely on their starting prowess to challenge Mercedes at the front.